Railway-crossing signal.



J. F. REBDBR. RAILWAY" CROSSING SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1912.

Patented Mau". 4, 1913.

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ssssssssssssss JOHN F. REEDER, OF SHELBYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

. RAILWAY-CROSSING SIGNAL.

To all whom/15 may concern Be it known that I, JOHN F. REEDER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Shelbyville, in the county of Shelbyand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Railway-Grossing Signals, of which the following is a specification.j

The present invention relates to an improved railway crossing signal, ofthe type known as visual and audible, and is automatically actuated byan approaching train of cars.

The object of the invent-ion is the provision of means to act as awarning signal at points on railways, as for instance the highwaycrossing, to indicate the approach of a train upon the railway.

The invention consists essentially in a visual and audible signallocated at a predetermined point, that is agitated from a distant pointby the passage of the wheels of a passing train over an actuatingdevice, and in certain combinations and arrangements of parts ashereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one Vcomplete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest mode I have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of a railroad, equipped with mysignal system. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the signal actuatingdevice, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a railway crossing showingthe signal and operating mechanism. Y

As before stated the invention embodies both the visual and audiblefeatures of a signal, as for instance a iag 1 for the former and a bell2 for the latter. The bell is supported from the post 3 by means of asuitable bracket arm 4, while the flag is supported upon its staff 5 toswing in the open eyes 6, 6, which are ancho-red in the post. The postor upright 3 is supported upon a platform 7 of concrete or othersuitable material located at the side of the railroad tracks, and inthis instance in close proximity to the highway crossing over therailroad.

The signal is agitated from a distance, and for this purpose, anactuating device as illustrated in Fig. 2 is located at a predeterminedand suitable point beyond the crossing. This device comprises a pair ofhinged arms Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1912.

Patented Mar. 4t, 1913.

serieu No. 707,004.

S and 9, which at their hinged joint project Ua suitable distance abovethe rail 10 to be in position to be ridden down by the passing wheels ofa train. A spring 11 returns the arms S and 9 to position, and anextension 12 of the arm 9 is guided in flanged bracket 13, while the arm8 is hinged at 14 to a stationary member 15. From this construction itwill be understood that the passage of a wheel over the device willdepress the arms 8 and 9, and as the arm 8 is hinged at 14, thedepression of the arms causes the arm 9 to be shoved to the right inFig. 2, thus draw ing on the draw rod 16 which is loosely connected tothe arm 9 at 17.

The draw rod 16 is the medium by which the movement of the passing trainactuates the signal system, and this is accomplished through the pivotedlever 1S whose link 19 is connected to the toggle levers 20. The togglelevers are anchored at pivot points 21 and 22 to the platform 7 and arelikewise connected to the two armed lever which is fixed on the staff 5.A spring 24E which is secured at one end to the cleat 25 is connected atits other end to the lever 23. There are two levers 18 shown, so thatthe signal may be operated on a single track road from a train movingin` either direction toward the signal.

In operation, the passing wheels o-f a train of cars impact with thehinge joint of the actuating device and depress the arms 8 and 9, thuspulling on the draw rod 16. The movement of the draw rod 16 swings thelever 18 on its pivot, and thus movement, through the link 19, pulls onthe toggle levers 20 to swing the two arm lever 23, the staff 5 and Hag1, in one direction, and the spring 2st immediately returns the lever 23after the passage of a wheel. Thus through the depression of theactuating arms 8 and 9, and the strength of the spring 24, the lever 2Sis agitated and with it the Hag 1. The flag is preferably of metal andis formed with a projection 25, and as the bell 2 is located in the pathof movement of the projection 25 when the flag is agitated, itwill beunderstood that the agitation of the flag, through the impact of theprojection 25 rings the bell 2. In this manner the flag is violentlywaved back and forward and the bell continually made to ring, as long asthe train ofv cars is passing over the actuating device, and asuilicient warning is given of the approach of a train.

Having thus fully described my invention levers connected to the otherarm for oscil- 10 what I claim is zlat-ing said Statt.

A combined audible and visual signal In testimony whereof I aiix mysignature comprising a vertically arranged rotatable in presence of twoWitnesses. staff and a rigid flag thereon formed with a JOHN F REEDERprojection, a bell in the path of movement i of the projection, a twoarmed lever fixed to lVitnesses: the stai anda spring fixed to one ofthe MICHAEL KESSEL, k lever arms, and suitably actuated toggle S. S.CRooK.

Copies of this patent may be ,obtained for vecents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

